Ulrika stands up for post-birth incontinence

Well, Ulrika Jonsson is back in the news with her views on being a mum and post-pregnancy weight loss. This time, however, she reveals 'the most embarrassing' and intimate of health secrets that affects many women post-birth: light adult incontinence (LAI) or postpartum urinary incontinence. As a result of having four children, as she says, it's no wonder that the muscles supporting her pelvis were weakened. Laughing, sneezing or coughing are all triggers for the leaking of a small amount of urine. Women who give birth vaginally are less likely to have urinary incontinence as opposed to women who have caesareans. In Australia, women comprise over 70% of people affected by urinary incontinence.

As most women suffer in silence, Jonsson has decided to speak out:

"I can't bear the thought of women suffering alone, in silence and feeling so alienated by this condition through absolutely no fault of their own. I mean, there is nothing adult about panicking every time you laugh or sneeze and feeling that you're losing control, so it's so easy to understand the stigma.

At the time, it did make me feel self-conscious, to say the very least, although my minor leakage problems after going to the toilet were alleviated by using the right protection and were not extreme enough for me to be caught out. But I do remember wondering whether I would have to suffer the side effects of childbirth for the rest of my life.

As an independent working woman I felt a bit stupid: what, I couldn't even control my own bladder - something you normally learn to do around the age of three?"

She says the only way she got her continence problem under control was through weight loss (she put on 5 stone in her last pregnancy) and doing pelvic floor exercises religiously.

If you suffer from urinary incontinence as a result of childbirth, here are some resources:
Urinary incontinence explained
Continence Foundation of Australia
Always Envive: Sense & Sensitivity Campaign UK

Does anyone have any thoughts? Is urinary incontinence affecting you? What did you do to strengthen your pelvic floor?

Source: Ulrika reveals her most embarassing health issue

A little pelvic thrust for a lot of money

Well, I have now seen the future and as I have said many times before, it is not good.

First, it was the bikini wax. Then it was the Brazillian. My friends, the maintenance of your vagina has just become more expensive.

Welcome to the era of the gyno spa. That's right ladies. GYNO-SPA. We're talking a gym for your vagina. And where else would you find one, other than New York City.

After seeing how successful (and profitable) teeth whitening chains had become, Dr. Lauri Romanzi, a gynecologist, decided to invest in pelvic fitness. In a 'spa' set up next to her clinic, she takes her clients through pelvic exercises which she calls the 'dental floss' of feminine fitness.

"At the spa, the signature treatment will be a $150 gynecological exam — in which a client contracts her pelvic muscles around Dr. Romanzi’s fingers — to determine by feel whether muscle tone is weak, moderate or strong."

The exercise consultation is especially being marketed to new mothers who need to tighten up. You can even get cosmetic laser treatments to tighten up the skin of your vulva *gulp*

Scared. I am very, very scared.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/fashion/03SkinOne.html_r=1&ref=style&oref=slogin